Kirkwood



Jan. 31, 1956 KlRKWOOD, JR 2,732,568

BED FLOWER AND UTILITY STAND Filed Jan. 24, 1952 IIIIIII "591 U H J :64 2/ IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent BED FLOWER AND UTILITY STAND James Kirkwood, In, Great Neck, N. Y., assignor to American Hospital Supply Corporation, Evanston, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application January 24, 1952, Serial No. 268,081

6 Claims. (Cl. -317) This invention relates to a bed utility stand, and more particularly to a bed flower and utility stand adapted to support heavy objects such as flower vases, flower pots, etc. The invention is particularly. useful in connection with hospital beds. V

In hospitals, sanatoriums, etc., it is important that the beds be relatively simple in structure and have as little in the way of projections as possible so as not to interfere with the making of beds, treatment of patients, etc.

There has long been a need for a bed and stand structure which would enable a flower and utility stand to be readily supported by the already-existing bed structure while at the same time permitting the removal of the stand therefrom.

An object of the present invention is to provide a bed and stand combination accomplishing the above results while avoiding projections which might interfere with the making of beds, treatment of patients, etc. A further object is to provide with a bed structure a stand equipped with means for telescopically engaging the post of the bed, releasably securing the stand thereon. Yet another object is to provide in such a structure means for forming a tight interlock between the posts of the bed and the stand supports so as to rigidly anchor the stand upon the bed. Yet another object is to provide such a structure which permits folding of the stand so as to occupy. little space when the same is not in use while permitting ready attachment of the same to the bed or posts thereof when the stand is needed. Other specific objects and ad vantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is shown, in an illustrative embodiment, by the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bed frame equipped with a stand embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a perspective view of the lower side of the stand and of the folding supports carried thereby; Fig. 3, a vertical sectional view showing the stand supported upon the bed posts; and Fig. 4, a transverse sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

In the illustration given, 10 designates a bed frame having at the head of the bed hollow posts 11 equipped with a reinforcing strip 12, the strip and top portion of the bed being provided with aligned openings 12a. A foot frame 13 comprises a pair of hollow posts 14 connected at their top by a cross frame member 14a. A reinforcing metal strip 15 extends over the top of the member 14a and the two members are apertured at 15a, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3.

The bed utility stand 16 comprises a border strip 17 which may be formed of metal, wood, or other suitable material, and a central panel 18 formed of plastic, metal, plywood, or other construction board, as desired. In the illustration given, metal straps 19 are welded or otherwise suitably fastened to the border 17 to provide sockets for receiving the cross bars 20. The cross bars may, if desired, be provided with beads 20a for retaining the bars within the sockets provided by the straps 19. To the cross bars 20, which are preferably rotatably an- 2 chorcd within the bracket supports 19, are secured post Supports 21, which are adapted to be received within the openings 15a or 12a of the bed.

I find that it is particularly advantageous to support I the stand above the foot frame 13 of the bed as by extending the post supports 21 into the openings 15a, as shown the result that the weight of the heavy flower pots or other heavy objects tend to increase the tightness of the grip between the post supports 21 and the posts 14 or cross member 14a.

' If desired, the border member 17 of the stand may be extended downwardly and the cross bars 20 may be rabbeted into the wood so that they are held against endwise movement. If the stands are formed of metal, I prefer to employ beads 20a or other suitable means for preventing the cross bars from sliding in a lateral direction, or, if desired, the border may extend downwardly to provide a closed area which will hold the cross bars against endwise movement.

In the operation of the structure, the stand 16 may be introduced in position upon a bed by drawing the post supports 21 to a vertical position and extending them through the openings 15a, as illustrated in Fig. 3. In this position, the weight of the objects upon the stand tends to tighten the connection between the post supports and the bed members 14 and 14a. When the stand is no longer needed, the same may be readily removed by withdrawing the supports 21 from the posts 14, the posts 21 being then swung inwardly, as illustrated at the right hand side of the stand shown in Fig. 2. The folded structure may be then placed in a closet, where it occupies little space.

The posts, bars, and other structures may be of any desired cross-sectional shape and may be dimensioned to give the desired tight-fitting eflect above referred to.

While in the foregoing specification, I have set forth a specific structure in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating one embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that such details of structure may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In combination with a bed having a pair of hollow posts at one end and a cross bar over said posts provided with openings aligned with said posts, a stand equipped with depending elongated supports removably received within said cross bar openings and within said posts for supporting said stand thereon, said supports having inwardly curved upper portions frictionally engaging the top portions of said cross bar for causing said supports to grip said cross bar.

2. In combination with a bed frame having a pair of hollow posts at one end and a cross frame member connecting said posts, said cross frame member being provided with openings aligned with said posts, a stand comprising a perimetric frame having cross bars rotatably mounted thereon, and support legs secured centrally to said cross bars and adapted to be swung in a plane through the longitudinal axis of said stand between an inner position adjacent the stand and downwardly and outwardly to a position at right angles to said perimetric frame and received within said cross frame openings and said hollow posts.

3. In combination with a bed frame having a pair of hollow posts at one end and a cross frame member connecting said posts, said cross frame member being provided with openings aligned with said posts, a stand comprising a perimetric frame having cross:- barts: rotatably mounted thereon, and support legs secured centrally to said cross bars and adapted to be swung, in aplane through the longitudinal axis of said. stand selectively between an inner position adjacent the stand and. down wardly and outwardly to a position substantially at right angles to said perimetric frame and received within said cross frame openings and said hollow posts, said support legs having inwardly curved upper portions adapted to frictionally engage the top portions of said. cross: frame member for causing said support legs to gripthe same.

4-. A stand adapted. to be. removably mounted upon a bed frame comprising a perimetric frame having cross bars rotatably mounted thereonand support legs secured to said cross bars and being adapted. to be. swung; in a plane through. the. longitudinal. axis of said. stand. selectively between: an inner position adjacent the. stand and downwardly and outwardly to; a position. substantiallyat right angles to said perimetric frame, said support legs being adapted to be received when in the latter of. said positions. in the hollow posts of a bed. frame.

5. In combination with; a bed frame having atone end thereof a pair ofhollow posts, a stand comprising a central panel. adapted to be supported in a position. substantially normal. to the longitudinal axes: of said posts, crossbars rotat'ably carried by said panel adjacent the ends thereof, and support legs secured centrally to said cross bars and being adapted to be swung in a plane through the longitudinal axis of said stand selectively between an inner position adjacent the stand and downwardly and outwardly to a position substantially normal to said panel and in alignment with said hollow posts.

6. In combination with a bed having at one end thereof a pair; of spaced apart openings, a stand equipped with depending elongated supports removably received within said openings for supporting said stand, said supports having inwardly curved upper portions frictionally' engaging portions of said bed about said openings for causing said supports to grip: said bed.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 719,125 Martin Jan. 27, 1903 1,040,909 Easton Oct. 8, 1.912 1,347,271 Hartman July 20, 1920 1,689,626 Gallowitz Oct. 30,. 1923 2,551,151 McMurtrie May' 1, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 365,428 Great Britain Mar. 10, 1932 799,431 France June 12, 1936 969,150 France Dec. 14, 1950 

